Cotton ginning and cleaning apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(No Model.)

M. GOVEL.,

COTTON GINNING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

No. 29b,8.'2.11.

]?a1,i;entef5l Apr. l5, 1884.

5% @gem-.Tm @M /Ae MW g/Wig@ @NM/ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

M. GOVBL. COTTON GINNING ANDl CLEANING APPARATUS. No. 296,824. I Patented Apr. 15,1884.

nl Fsrens, mwmugnpm. wmengwn. ma

(No Model.) 4 VSheets--She@t 3'.

N. NOVEL.

COTTON GINNING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

No. 296,824. l Patented Apr. 15, 1884.`

Jie .van fm1' n. Pneus. www. www n (No Model.) n 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M. COVBL. f

COTTON GINNING AND CLEANING APPARAT No. 296,824. Patented Ap 1884.

irren.

ivnLo oovnL, or CHICAGO, ILLrNois.

COTTON GINNING AND CLEANING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,824, dated April 15, 1884.

i application inea July 3, nea. (No modem To @ZZ whom :it may concern/.f

Be it known that I, MILD COVEL, of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Cotton Ginning and Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the saine, reference being hadV to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for ginning and cleaning cotton and reducing other librous substances, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in detail.

Figure l is a front end elevation of my iniproved machine, a portion ofthe inclosinghead being broken away; Fig. 2, a side elevation. Figs. 3, 4, 6, and Fare detached details ofconstruction, and Fig. 5 a modiiication; Fig. 8, a skeleton elevation of the front end, showing the manner of attaching the belt-sto the pulleys. i A

Referring to the drawings, A represents a series of hollow cylinders arranged in a circular plane, forming a large cylindrical 4body and providing an interior space inclosed 'by said cylinders for the reception of the material to be treated. The ends of the cylindrical body are inclosed hy the heads A A2, the head A having a central opening, through which the cotton is fed into the apparatus, andbeing also provided with the outward-projecting rings, A3 At, for the attachment and support of the different parts of the operating mechanism. The cylindrical hody is supported by the legs A5, which are bolted to the heads inclosing the ends of the series oi' cylinders. The outer sides of the series of cylinders are inclosedk hy the casing or jacket '13,.which is constructed in as many longitudinal sections as there are cylinders, so as to readily and conveniently permit ofthe removal oi' any of the segmental sections of the casing, in order to give access for exam ining or repairing any particular cylinder without disturbing the rest of the mechanism. Considerable space is left between the casing and thelongitndinal surfaces of the cylinders, and the junctions of the series of sections composing the casing B are curved inward to a point, c, between each two cylinders, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. By following the contour of the cylinders inward in this manner,

with the joining edges of the sections forming Y the casing B, a kind of chute is formed, which will have a tendency to conduct the air-currents created by the action of the revolving cylinders into the central space inclosed by the cylinders, and also to return any seed or other matter that might nd its way into the space next to the casing B.

The opposite end or head, A2, of the apparatusis provided with the proj ecti ngand gradually-contracted open part B', which communicates with the lint-room B2, that receives the fibrous product from the apparatus, the seeds and other refuse matterdropping down through the passage B3.

The series of ginning-cylinders A are of a peculiar construction, the two ends of the series of cylinders being each provided with a wheel or spider consisting of the arms or spokes O, having the outer ends connected hy a rim, and the hub C', supported on the shaft Gwhi ch extends the whole length of each cylinder.

The toothed or serrated rings D, forming the surfaces of the series of cylinders, are composed of a series of segmental sections, one of which is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The sections entering into the formation of the toothed rings are perforated for the passage of the supporting tie-rods C3, extending the whole length of the cylinder or series of cylinders, and through the rims on the wheels at each end of the cylinders. The toothed rings are arranged at regular intervals, one being held separate from the other by means ofthe wire-clamps a', the ends of which are bent aroundor looped to clasp or engage with the rods C, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Three layers or thicknesses of these series of clamps are arranged between each one of the series of toothed rings, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, thus leaving elongated openings' a? betweeneach alternate row of clamps and the rods C, for the passage of the air-currents from the hollow cylinders into the central space inclosed by the saine. Each of the series of-sections entering into the construction of the rings D is put together so as to break joints with the next succeeding or com- IOO panion rings, for the purpose of giving additional strength lto these parts. By this arrangement should any of the toothed segments become broken or worn, all that is necessary to be done is to slip out the binding-rods passing through the particular section, when the same is readily removed and replaced by another without having to take out or replace an entire cylinder. The fans C4 extend the whole length of the cylinders, and are bolted to the arms of the two wheels placed at each end of the series of cylinders. These fans serve to generate and maintain a continuous current of air while the cylinders are in motion.

Both the heads inclosing the ends of the apparatus are provided with a number of ad-` justable registers, D, opening into and corresponding with the number of cylinders employed. One of the plates of each register is adapted to move upon the other plate for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the size kof the wedge-shaped slots, and said registers are adapted to be retained at any-sized opening to which they may be set, so as to admit a greater or less volume of air, as may be necessary, in accordance with the nature and condition ofthe substance being treated, and also to admit a variable volume of air into different parts of the apparatus. The volume or quantity of air required will depend greatly upon the condition of the cotton or other fibrous substance to be treated, for when the same is damp or wet a greater volume of air will be required to dry it as the fibers are picked or separated by the series of toothed cylinders.

The series of toothed rings of the companion cylinders overlap or project a little beyond each. other alternately, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which shows a portion of two cylinders.

The shaft or shafts G2, supporting the series of cylinders, are provided with suitable bearings in the ends or heads inclosing the apparatus. The front ends of the shafts are each provided with a band or driving pulley, D2, one belt connecting the whole, whereby the series of cylinders are all simultaneously rotated in the same direction. Motion is transmittedA to these cylinders by throwing a second belt over the first one connecting the series of cylinders,the same as though there were but one pulley in common to all the cylinders.

The pulley D3 has frictional contact with one of the pulleys, D, and is supported on the shaft D, which in turn has suitable bearings in the brackets a3 a?, bolted to the front end of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The shaft DL is provided with the band-pulley a", receiving the belt a5, which connects the same with the pulley a, By this arrangement motion is transmitted to the feed mechanism described farther along. The pulley D3 is adapted to have a longitudinal adjustment on the shaft D, for the purpose of while thelower end may be moved on the perforated radius-bar b2.

The pulley a is on the same shaft with the feed-drum b3, which is in turn connected with the companion drum b4 by means of the endless traveling apron b5, having the outer surface studded with lag-points, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cotton being fed into the hopper b it is carried down into the concave part d, also thickly studded with lagpoints, and rolled or dragged along in the direction indicated by the arrow over the wire screening-surface d', which allows most of the heavier and finer refuse matter to drop out of the cotton or other fibrous substance before it passes into the ginning apparatus. The lags in the feed-apron are inclined back instead of forward, while the lags in the concave part d are inclined in the opposite direction, which arrangement prevents the cotton from choking up the passage as it is dragged or rolled along, instead of being forced and crowded by the points of the lags, as would be the case were the lags in the feed-apron inclined forward. This arrangement of feed mechanism also has the effect of crushing tlie'bolls or pods and loosening up the fiber, which greatly facilitates the after process in the ginning apparatus. Or-

dinarily the cotton is carried directly for- IOO As the cotton passes from the feed mechanism into the apparatus. it is subjected to the action of the series of toothed cylinders, which revolve in a direction to first bring the backs of the teeth in contact with the substance under treatment, thus stranding out and producing a long fiber, instead of chopping up the ber, as would be the case were the ginningcylinders run in the opposite direction, striking the fibers with the points of the teeth, as is the casein the ordinary saw-gin. The bringing of the backs of the teeth in contact with the substance also has a tendency to avoidbreaking 'or cutting the hulls of the cottonseed, which is a very desirable feature in this class of mechanism, as it is a difficult matter to separate the broken hulls or shells from the fiber. The series of cylinders are all revolved at a very high rate of speed, and the fans suck the air into the case through the openings in the registers, and the blast and cylinders separate the heavier from the lighter particles and force the lighter ones into the lint-chamber, while the heavier matter-such as seed and refuse-drop into passage B3. The continuous air-currents passing inward to the center from all directions, through the many in contact with the toothed surfaces after being EE El, for the purpose of dividing the product d rollers have bearings in one end of the armsd,

lighter refuse matter against the contracted Awith the series of drums, as shown in Fig. 2 of openings in the series of cylinders, prevent the l ber from adhering to or being again brought once separated from the seed and other refuse. The contracted passage leading from the apparatus into the lint-room serves to catch the walls and drop the same down the passage B. In front of the contracted passage, andy inside of the lint-room, is placed the adjustable apron di, which' may be set at any desired angle by means ofthe cord di The lower edge is hinged to the partition d5, which extends to near the discharge-opening, and has a space between it and the wall of the lint-room, next to ginning apparatus, these parts serving to prevent the passage of any refuse matter into the lintroom that may find its way through the contracted passage, and also to spread out and separate the fibers, so that the same will the more readily gravitate or divide into different lots in the lint-room.

The lint-room is provided with the drums or bers into diderent lots. The heaviest or coarsest drops onto the first drum, the next grade onto the second drum, and the finest quality is carried along and lodged on the drum E2. The shell orperiphery of these drums is composed of wire-gauze, through which the air escapes that enters from the apparatus. One ofthe drums is partly broken away to show the ganze, which is shown on a' comparativelylarge scale, to prevent confusion as to the lines.

The rollers F F F2 have frictional contact the drawings, which serves the purpose of condensing and compacting the fiber as it is carried down by the revolving drums and dropped into the bin or compartment underneath. The

the opposite ends of the arms being pivoted to the standards d?. This arrangement serves to retain the rollers in contact with the drums by their own weight, and at the same time allows them to riseup for the passage of a greater or less quantity of ber, and prevents clogging. By this arrangement the fiber in the lint-room is not collected. in one lot, but is separated into different lots or grades by the combined action of the air-blast and force of gravity. l 1

The roller his placed so as to rest against the lower part of the drum El, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is rotated by frictional contact therewith. The roller h is jour-` naled and supported in the upper forked end of the arm h', the lower end of which is pivoted to the frame-work of the structure. This arrangement permits of an automatic adjustment upward and away from the drum as the roller thickens from the accumulation of ber. The function of this roller is to collect the lint or fiber from the gauze-drums and form it into laps ready for the carding-machines or balingpress. One of these rollers may be placed` purpose of removing the laps or temporarily dispensing with the use of the same. The series of gauze-drums in the lint-room revolveaway from the ginning apparatus, motion being transmitted to the same from one of the series of cylinders, A, by means of a belted connection with the horizontal shaft lz?, provided with a number of beveled pinions, if', which engage with corresponding gear-wheels h4 on thejournal-shai'ts ofthe gauze-drums.

Instead of constructing the series of cylinders A, as described, the shell or toothed periphery of the same may bcformed of a single piece and providedwith rectangular openings for the passage of the air-currents, and with circular apertures for the insertion of the prickers or toothed points, as shown in the modification, Fig. 5, of the drawings.

This apparatus may also be used with advantage in cotton-factories for working over and preparing the baled cotton for the carding-machine which has been ginned in the ordinary machines.

Having thus described my in vention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a cotton-gin, the combination of a seriesV of inclosed toothed cylinders arranged in a circular plane, the whole inclosing an annu` lar interior space, where the cotton or other brous substance to be treated is subjected to the action of the continuous moving toothed cylinders, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with aseries of hollow cylinders and a casing or jacket provided with openings for the admission of air into each of the cylinders, of a series of fans arranged IOO longitudinally on the inside of each of the feeding apparatus consisting of the drum b3,

the companion drum bi, thefeed-apron b5, having the outer surface thereof studded with lagpoints which are inclined back from a forward movement of the apron, the concave part d, provided with lag-points, and the wire screening-surfaceu d, arranged in the under side ofthe feed-passage, whereby a portion of the refuse matter is expelled from the substance before it passes into the ginning apparatus, subst-antially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a ginning apparatus, of a lint-room provided with a number IIO of gauze-drums arrangedin al horizontal plane,

and self-adjusting rollers F F F2, for 'che pur- Wall of the lint-room below the .dischargepose of separatingtheber into as many grades opening.

or lots as there are drums. A MIL() COVEL.

6. The combination of a ginnng apparatus W'tnesses:

having adiseharge-opening, and a lint-room L. M. FREEMAN,

having adjustable shield d3, hinged to parl C. F. JONES.

tition d5, having' a space between it `and the 

